South Asia Focus (Weekly Programme) – Aug 20, 2017

This show focuses on Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s speech on India’s 71st Independence Day where he spoke tough against the terrorism and the countries emanating it from their land, he was also vocal about the support he has been getting from across the globe in his fight against the menace of terrorism. Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest resource-rich province where human rights violations are on the rise, activists from Balochistan blame the Pakistan Army for carrying out genocide in the region. Massive floods which have wreaked havoc in many regions of South Asia, the situation remains grim especially in Eastern and North Eastern India, Southern Nepal and Northern Bangladesh as 300 people have died and a million others have been displaced in the region. In Afghanistan, the atrocities by the Taliban and ISIS are rapidly rising and recently Afghan police discovered mass graves containing the bodies of at least 36 victims of a recent militant attack in Mirza Olang village. In India, the festival of Janmashtami; the birthday of Lord Krishna was celebrated across the country with pomp and gaiety and devotees around the country paid obeisance to their favorite Lord Krishna by performing various rituals with an ambiance of festivity all around.